England’s Anthony Hamilton has reached the final of the China Open in Shanghai after a 6-3 semi-final victory over giantkiller Mark Selby. Hamilton, who beat Ireland’s Ken Doherty in the previous round, is now just one step away from capturing his first world-ranking title.
Selby came into the game on the back of shock wins over Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan, but a third successive surprise proved a stretch too far with Hamilton limiting the youngster to just one frame after the players were tied at 2-2 at the mid-session interval. Hamilton will now play either John Higgins or Mark Williams in tomorrow’s final.
“If I can play like that again in the final I think I've got every chance. Both Mark and John can dominate you if you don't play well but I'm feeling pretty good myself. The aim when I got here was just to win my first match. Getting to the final never entered my head but as the week's gone on I've felt better and better,” said the 30-year-old from Nottingham.
“I'm always going to be nervous going into a semi-final or final, because I don't reach many and I'm not used to them but all the nerves went when I got out there and realised I was cueing well,” he added.
Filed by Tom Grealis
